H, you freshers, with your shiny
new student accounts and
enthusiasm, eager to experience
all that university can throw at you. For
many of you, this is the first time away
from home. You’re anxious to assert
your independence, and mostly this will
come in the form of consuming far too
much exotic-looking alcohol and being
in pictures that you definitely won’t want
your parents to see.
Now, I’ve been a fresher twice – yes, I made
a Poor Life Choice (hereby known as a
PLC) when I first applied to Portsmouth
University, but I made up for it tenfold by
switching to Swansea as soon as I could.
So it is with my wisdom and experience of
making some serious PLCs that I am here
to guide you through the next year. I want
you all to make a point of learning from
my mistakes. Alternatively, you could make
some even bigger ones so that mine look
good in comparison.

1.

Firstly, do not attach yourself to
someone within the first week of university.
You’re here for three years, and they won’t
seem half as attractive within six months.
Don’t rush; you’ve plenty of time to find
someone your parents will hate.

be making a PLC. I conducted a personal
study this year by getting drunk very
regularly for a fortnight. My body held a
small demonstration, and I was unable to
eat properly for a month. I felt disgusting,
looked awful, and my mum was furious,
but my housemates were overjoyed by
how much food I gave to them – every
cloud has a silver lining, I guess.

4.
By Catrin Lewis
to negotiate these hurdles is it appropriate
to spend the rest of your loan on new
clothes and alcohol. You will soon learn to
budget and shop around – for example,
buy fresh food in the market where you
only buy as much as you need for cheaper,
and then go to JC’s for a pint rather than
one of Wind Street’s fine establishments. If
you can, try and save yourself some money
for over the holidays – right now, it is the
end of August, and I am sat here with
precisely £9.86 to my name, with three
weeks to go until pay day. Remember what
I said – learn from my mistakes.

2. Secondly, your student loan is finite. 3.
I know, it’s a horrible realisation. You also
have to be aware of your priorities: first
comes your rent and bills, second to that
is food, and then it’s important things like
books and shoes that will see you through
the winter. Only when you have managed

Pace yourself. In small to medium
doses, alcohol is not necessarily that bad
for you – although what is said for your
body is not necessarily true for your wallet.
However, getting completely obliterated
four times a week is bad for you, and you
will do well to avoid doing so, else you will

Fourth, eat properly. Please don’t
make a point of eating only potato smileys
and turkey dinosaurs for every meal just
because you can. Eventually, you are going
to get sick of beige-coloured food, and you
will want some vegetables. Beat your body
shutting down on you by learning how to
cook. Waterstones in the Taliesin sell some
basic student cook books that are brilliant
for learning the staples of home cooking,
and if you can’t be bothered to buy them,
you can just take pictures of the recipes on
your iPhone.

5. For this one, make sure your parents

are out of the room… Gone? Excellent.
Boys and girls, you may have heard of
sex. You may have heard that university
is a brilliant place to obtain it. Let me tell
you, Swansea may have gone up in the
University Sex League (up to 12th place,
from last year’s 60, woo!), but university
is not one massive orgy. Or at least, if it
is, I’ve not been invited. Anyway, if you
are going to do it, your Students’ Union
provides thousands of free condoms
per year. Make use of them – and not for
balloon animals. Also, make sure that you
have enough money the next morning for

the taxi of disgrace, rather than having to
humiliate yourself with the walk of shame.
Alternatively, if you’ve awoken being able
to remember their name, you are entitled
to take the stride of pride. Congratulations.

6.

Join a society. I really, really wish I’d
done this in my first year. Since joining The
Waterfront – not technically a society, but
you know what I mean – I have had the
best time at university. I’ve met friends
for life, learnt new skills, discovered what I
want to be when I grow up, and had some
awesome experiences. No matter what
you’re interested in, you’ll find a society for
it, and if you can’t, don’t be afraid to form
your own.

7.

Do some work – everyone knows
the freshers’ mantra of ‘f**k it, 40 percent’,
but organising yourself to do some work
from the off is a really good habit to form,
and it looks a lot better on your transcript.
Learn to organise yourself so that you’re
not working right up until the deadline,
too. There’s nothing worse than sleeping
through the hand-in deadline and
waking up to your face in your keyboard,
smothered in drool.

8.

Perhaps the best and most useful
piece of advice I can give you is to enjoy
yourself. Don’t forget that you’re here to
work, but university is also about a whole
new lifestyle and learning about yourself
and the world around you. Forget school
being the best days of your life – your time
at Swansea will definitely beat it.

From the sublime... Enjoying a social night out with SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) ... or doing the washing up, a big part of every student’s life (or not, as the case may be)

thewaterfront
Chris Flynn
2nd year Law
#1- Remember you
have three years to see
Swansea. You don’t
have to visit everything
in Freshers. But go to
pubs, clubs and bars
away from the main ones. There are some
real hidden treasures in Swansea.
#2- You can’t drink off Fresher’s Flu. 90%
of people develop the flu or cold-like
symptoms in the first few weeks of term. If
you do, take a night off; soldiering on can
leave you feeling worse for even longer.
#3- Don’t join too many societies. Societies
are a massive part of life at university,
but don’t sign up to more than five. The
younger, more carefree version of myself
made this mistake - costing me a lot of
beer money and I didn’t even go to half
of the societies. You can always sign up to
others throughout the year.
#4-Don’t s**t on your doorstep. Not a
mistake I made, but I have seen it occur.
It basically means if you have romantic
relations with a housemate it could
jeopardise the whole house’s relationship.
Then again, it could work and you’d have
the easiest booty call of your life.
#5- Remember why you took out a student
loan. Falling behind on your course studies
is common. My exam period would have
been a lot less hassle if I had spent less
time with Mario and Sonic and more with
Contract and EU law.

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

What I have learned
Sam Bust-Webber
3rd Year History
“Never shop when you’re hungry!”
Penny Norris
2nd Year French and Italian
Translation
“Learn to cook! It saves money,
especially if you club together
and cook for a few at a time. And
it’s sociable! Cooking and eating
together is a very good way to get to know one
another.”
Charlotte Britton
Students’ Union Welfare Officer
“I didn’t do it and suffered the
consequences - but BUDGET! Learn to
budget, for the love of EVERYTHING,
learn to budget.”
Marie Fall
3rd Year Medical Sciences
“Don’t get too excited when the
loan comes in. Once you’ve paid
rent that £1000+ doesn’t seem to
go as far as you thought it would.”
Richard Marc Lewis
3rd Year Zoology
“Tea. Everything in life can be
resolved with a cup of tea.”

Would you like to learn journalistic
skills like writing, interviewing,
editing and designing?
Waterfront always welcomes new
volunteers. Get in touch and find out
what you can contribute.
Email editor Kay Byrne at:
editor@swansea-union.co.uk

WHEN I arrived in Swansea in September
2008, I did two things, I wore a headband
and I broke my foot. I’d recommend you do
neither of these things. At that time I didn’t
know anything about the building barely
200 metres from my halls of residence,
Union House.
The first question to answer about your
Students’ Union is: How do I become a
member? It’s simple really, by enrolling
each year on to your course at Swansea
University you are automatically a member
of Swansea University Students’ Union.
All of our services are open to you – events,
societies, sports clubs, travel, free impartial
advice, tea, coffee, you name it, we pretty
much have it, even a nursery! We exist,
to enhance your experience at Swansea
University and be here for you when you
need us.
What makes us stand out from all other

unions across the UK? Well, we hold
two current Guinness World Records for
starters! One for the most Smurfs in the
same room at the same time, and the
other, for the most skeletons in the same
room at the same time.
In partnership with Cardiff University we
run ‘The Welsh Varsity’ every Easter, during
which we compete in a number of sports
against each other, culminating in a rugby
match at the Millennium Stadium, which
we have a trend for winning!
We run 11 weekly nights out, employ over
200 students as part-time members of
union staff and do our best to hold events
to interest everyone. There are rumours of
bungee jumping on campus this year…
So how do you get involved? We have a
fantastic variety of societies and sports
clubs – which you can sign up to at
Freshers’ Fayre (in the big blue and white

The NUS
Established in 1922, the National Union of
Students, otherwise known as NUS, is an
organisation working on behalf of students
in further and higher education. This
representation involves policy issues, such as
the raising of tuition fees and what funding
students receive, as well as topics such as
housing and student welfare.
Students are currently facing a barrage of
issues. Firstly, if you’re a fresher from outside
of Wales, you’ll know that you’re now paying
more for your time here.
Whilst fees have risen for many, Welsh
students are protected by the Welsh
Assembly. Their decision means that students
from Wales, even if they choose to study
elsewhere, will only pay £3290 – the same
price as it cost to go to university the year
before. Although this is fantastic in terms
of reducing student debt for those Welsh
students benefiting from the scheme,
teaching grants at universities have been
reduced by 35% to pay for it, meaning many
universities are now struggling even more
than before.

marquee outside Fulton House on campus
– 26th and 27th September – not to be
missed).
If you fancy yourself as replacing me or any
of the seven elected Full-Time Officers, why
not come along to our first Student Forum
on 16th October? If you’ve got a head for
debate and enjoy shaping the policy of an
organisation you’re a part of, then this is
the place for you!
All of the full-time officers have been
working relentlessly alongside our staff to
get everything ready for Freshers’ this year
and we cannot wait to meet you all. If you
have any questions please feel free to email
any of us, our contact details can be found
on the Students’ Union website – www.
swansea-union.co.uk. Welcome, and
please make yourself at home!
Tom Upton, President, Swansea
University Students’ Union 2012/13.

...about the Students’ Union
Catrin Lewis interviews Liam Burns, president of
the National Union of Students.

student movement, such as volunteering in the community.
We can’t rest on our laurels too much.

The national president, Liam Burns, was first elected to the
role in 2011, winning a second term at NUS Conference in
2012. His platform was one of implementing a graduate
tax rather than using the existing student loan repayment
system; allowing students to take more control over their
institutions; and ensuring that students are more financially
secure.

So do you think that party politics has a part to play
within NUS politics as well?
Massively in the sense that we have to work with all political
parties, as at the end of the day they all have very different
views on how students should be supported, and how
higher education should be funded. Some we agree with on
particular issues, some we won’t, but there is always rationality
in engaging across the political spectrum. Party politics by its
nature articulates how we value education, and that’s why
we have to make sure that politicians of every colour have
the right values when it comes to how our education is
funded and structured.

What does the NUS mean for students?
Being at university is literally life changing, the best years of
your life. But it’s not all easy going, it’s not an easy ride. There
are challenges from fees, student debt, hardship, what house
you have and where you live, and how much money you’ve
got in your pocket.
NUS does two things: one, to make sure your Students’ Union
is as strong as it can be, with its societies and campaigns for
change. It also stands up for students on a national basis. NUS
Wales has done stuff like stopping the cap on tuition fees
being lifted, it’s managed to win tens of millions in student
financial support, and has now put through legislation to
protect Students’ Union funding. All of these things are
helping to protect Students’ Unions right across Wales; saying
we have a right to education, and a right to be supported in
that education.
What are the biggest challenges facing students now?
Obviously the tuition fees are a huge challenge, which puts
an incredible strain on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
about what they’re going to do. At the moment, no Welsh
student will pay more than they used to, but the funding
for that is precarious, it’s unstable. The government has just
released a white paper in Wales on the structure of higher
education, and that’s a huge challenge for students in Wales.
There’s quite a different type of education that we could fight
for here, one that’s free of price tags. We could do things
differently here in Wales from what the rest of the UK has
decided to do.

NUS President Liam Burns

How do you think we can best achieve our wants?
We need to keep them on the agenda of politicians and
decision makers, especially in preparation for the next
election. The student vote is huge, and at the end of the day,
investing in education is investing in the society of tomorrow.
We don’t shout out enough about what’s great about the

When you’ve got universities such as Aston and
Southampton who have chosen to disaffiliate, do you
believe that NUS is as strong as it used to be?
We’re much stronger. 98% of all students in the UK are in
membership. Of the unions that are out, we’re having fairly
positive discussions with Southampton, they’re having a
referendum coming up next year. We have other positive
discussions with other students’ unions across the UK. We
generate tens of millions of pounds for students’ unions every
single year. For those unions that decide not to be part of the
NUS, it’s their students’ decision.
You’ve called for a national demo in November, why
should students go along and show support for it?
Conference called for a national demo back in April, and
rightly so in my opinion. What we’re trying to say is that our
future is being destroyed. It doesn’t matter what part of the
UK you’re in, whether it’s tuition fees if you live in Scotland,
youth unemployment across the board, or whether it be
the impossibility of getting on the housing market, all these
things are just taking away our futures. It’s about time we
told not just government, but parliament, that they can’t just
keep hacking on about the squeezed middle, when there is a
whole raft of people being hit much harder.
The reason we’re demonstrating is two-fold. One, that we
start putting in place markers for the next general election to
say to those politicians that betrayed us that we’ve not gone
away. Two that, we have a positive vision of what the future
should look like for us and that involves funding education,
it involves unemployment, it involves empowering people
who have had their rights taken away.

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

The ultimate guide to Freshers’ Fortnight
Jon May went to
have a chat with
Simmo
Simmons
(right), the Events and
Promotions Manager
for Swansea University
Students’ Union, to
ask the question most
Freshers will want to
know.

freshers’ guide to WHAT’S ON

What is Ents? Aren’t they the talking trees in Lord of
the Rings?
Ents (shortened from Entertainment) is the old name
for Student Swansea Events. We’re the provider of your
social life at university and are an official department
of the Students’ Union.
What is “Freshers’ Fortnight”? Just booze-up?
The first two weeks are the best way to kick off your
university experience and there’ll be events every
night! It’s not about drinking; it’s about exploring the
nightlife and getting to know people.
Why should Freshers go to Student Swansea Events?
Every penny goes back into the Students’ Union to
improve it and the services it gives you. Money raised
from Tooters (£2 entry, £1/pint on Friday nights) helps
run the nursery on campus, and shots at Sin City
helps run societies. Unlike private companies, all the
proceeds go to help improve your student experience.

How many events do you run?
We organise 11 weekly nights and we also plan, run
and sell tickets to the Welsh Varsity - the Cardiff V
Swansea rugby grudge match, and the Summer Ball,
which raises vital funds for the Students’ Union. We
also organise balls and events around Christmas,
Halloween and Easter.
What was the Summer Ball like last year?
The atmosphere was amazing. Pixie Lott headlined
and Tim Minchin was there singing songs on his piano.
In the past we’ve had Florence and the Machine, The
Streets, Feeder and even the Vengaboys. We’re always
looking for the biggest and best acts to put on a
spectacular show.
What is the Welsh Varsity?
It’s basically a battle in every sport between Cardiff and
Swansea University, culminating in the Millennium
Stadium for the Men’s Rugby 1st Final. The whole
place buzzed as 15,000 students came down to cheer
on their team.
Summer ball aside, this is the hardest challenge for
us every year as we plan the biggest university rugby
game in the UK.
How do people go about buying tickets for events?
This year, everything is going online. Just head to
Swansea-union.co.uk and buy them there. Every
purchase goes onto your student card, which is your
ticket into each venue. The door staff will scan it

and your ticket will show up. For the first time, you’ll
also be able to buy tickets from your ‘Residential
Volunteers’, so you know you’re buying genuine tickets
to Students’ Union venues.
What’s the difference between a Wristband and a
Platinum Package?
It’s easy, the Freshers’ Wristband (£45) gives you free
entry to every event happening during Freshers’
Fortnight. From Fresh ‘n’ Free all the way through to
the finale event Illuminate, it would cost you £104 to
go to every event, giving you a massive saving of £59.
If (well, I really mean when!) you find the Freshers’ to
be good value, you can upgrade it to the Platinum
package (£199 full /£154 upgrade) and that’ll give you
free entry to every event for the year. It works out to
just 70p per event!
What about picking up Freshers’ Wristbands?
We’re cutting queues and making the process a lot
simpler this year. You can pick it up from the Freshers’
Marquee when you arrive during Arrivals Weekend or
pick it up anytime from Sin City, JCs, The Wonky Sheep,
Fulton Outfitters, Spar in the village and Langland
Terrace.
What should people do if they get stuck?
There shouldn’t be any problems, it’s pretty simple to
book and pick up your tickets/wristband, but if you do
need help or ask questions, we’re on the second floor
of Union House, behind the Porters’ Lodge.

Music: We want it live and we love it loud!
A Guide To Live Music in Swansea
On a typical night out, you may find yourself
sauntering down Wind Street, grabbing a drink at
Oceana or jiving to cheesy classics in Koopas; but
Swansea doesn’t only offer chart hits over a set of
speakers, writes Alexandra Gibbs.
Whilst Monkey Bar on Castle Street has its electronica
acts and Oceana on Kingsway has chart-dominating
live performances; Swansea is also home to a number
of great venues for live musicians who range in rich
musical diversity.
To start off with, we have ‘Sin City’ on Dillwyn Street,
which has played host to numerous indie and rock
bands, including The Blanks, Wiley, Ben Howard and
Bowling For Soup. Sin City may not be the size of the
O2 arena, but it has the ultimate rock club vibe whilst
serving drinks which are as “cheap as chips”.
In October alone, you have the opportunity to watch
performances from Hadouken, Benjamin Francis
Leftwich and Dan Le Sac from as little as £9.
Next we have Uplands’ very own ‘The Garage’, which
is perfect for those of you who love to find fresh,
unsigned acts.
The Garage guarantees a friendly atmosphere with
great acoustics, and in this intimate venue you can
get right up close and personal to the featuring band.
There are plenty of different music venues in Swansea
area, including ‘No Sign Wine Bar’ on Wind Street and
the acoustic and jazz cafe ‘Caffe Americano’ on the
Prince of Wales Dock in SA1.

Cardiff. In the upcoming months, acts like ‘Billy Talent’
and ‘The Civil Wars’ will appear at Cardiff University
Students’ Union, whilst ‘Nicki Minaj’, ‘Example’ and
‘Jessie J’ will feature at the Motorpoint Arena.

For those of you who like to go the extra mile in
search for live bands, how about looking towards

Freshers’ Ball
Friday 28th September
The 25-year-old R’n’B star
is the headline act at the
Union Freshers’ Ball.

With chart number one hits like “Number One”
and “Never Leave You”, Stryder is certainly not shy
of success, teaming up with previous Swansea
University Students’ Union Summer Ball headliner
Pixie Lott in their hit track “Bright Lights.”
The Ghanian-born rapper, originally named Kwasi
Danquah III, has released three solo studio album
and has released a clothing line with his other
pseudonym “Star In The Hood.”
Freshers’ Ball tickets are included in Wristbands.

freshers’ guide to WHAT’S ON

2

Jaguar Skills

Freshers’ Ball - Friday 28th September
The British self-styled DJ gained notoriety back
in 2002 for his multi-genre mixes and has been featured on
BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra.
He is famously known for wearing
a ninja mask on stage, which adds
to his mystery personality - nothing
is known about his name, age or
hometown. His next tour “Jaguar Skills
and his Amazing Friends” debuts in
Photo: Syromaniac
the 02 Academy, Oxford, on Friday
12th October.

Freshers’ Ball - Friday 28th September
The British band recently were
recognised for their debut single “Bom Bom” which
soared straight in at number one in the UK charts.
Their music has also been used by an international
television advertising campaign by Southern
Comfort.
The eight-piece group describe themselves as using
elements of traditional Balkan music and Jamaican
ska fused with modern electronic and dance.

WANSEA’S famous poet, Dylan
Thomas, called it a ‘lovely, ugly town’.
It is also often described as ‘the
graveyard of ambition’. (That’s because
apparently once you come to live here, you
can’t bear to leave. And that’s in spite of the
rain! ) Whatever your opinion of Swansea, it’s
easy to have a great time here with excellent
nightlife, great scenery and more than 50
beaches to choose from. Let Samantha
Booth guide you around town ...

Nightlife Write this in your diary, every
week: Monday at Oceana, Tuesday at Divas,
Wednesday at Odyssey, Thursday at Sin City,
Friday at Divas or Sin City, Saturday Sin City.
Wind Street Wednesday nights on Wind
Street are ones never to be remembered!
Located in the city centre, this street
offers Vodka Revs, Peppermint, Walkabout
and Varsity. These are just a handful of
nightclubs and bars on this one street and
waiting for you at the end of the night is
the students’ union’s Wednesday student
night at Odyssey nightclub. Wind Street
also has several restaurants such as Nando’s,
Chiquito and Wetherspoons. Visit Walkabout

for a great view of Swansea Castle remains.

Oceana
Swansea’s biggest nightclub
on Kingsway has five themed bars, two
clubrooms and VIP facilities. Each room is
styled to reflect an iconic city from around
the world. It can accommodate over 3000
customers, but get there early to avoid the
queues at the bar.
Koopas Having only opened in 2012,
Koopas is a unique bar to Swansea which
offers a nightclub and gaming venue under
one roof. They have retro gaming nights on
Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drives as
well as the latest game releases.
Sin City Thursday night Sin Savers is the
alternative student night out in Swansea.
As well as playing new and classic indie and
rock tunes, they host gigs with big names.
This year, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Dan
Le Sac and The Computers are performing
at the venue. Let’s not forget the one thing
that draws students to Sin City: the drinks
are mega cheap!
Divas Divas is the students’ union owned
nightclub on campus. On a Friday night,

Glorious Gower

THE Gower Peninsula is around a 15-20
minute drive from Swansea city centre
and has 50 coves, beaches and bays. It
was Britain’s first Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty and The Independent
labelled it ‘the supermodel of British
beaches’. Surfers from all over the
country travel to ride the waves of the
Gower. Even beginners learn on the
flat, wide beach of Caswell Bay.
Visit spectacular Rhossili Bay on the
118 bus, from Swansea Bus Station,
for breathtaking views over the Bristol
Channel over a pint at The Worm’s
Head Hotel. It’s also the perfect place
to woo your post-freshers’ date with

Tooters takes over Union House with some
of the cheapest drinks around. On a Saturday
night, the union hosts OMG, where you
control the drink prices. The stock exchange
works by monitoring trends of drinks. For
example, if everyone is buying apple sours,
then the price of Disaronno plummets!
Noah’s Yard North of Swansea University is
the Uplands, where there are many student
bars and restaurants. A particular favourite,
is Noah’s Yard. It is most recognisable for
its adjustable sign – every day the bar
uses magnetic letters to write something
different! It is an Italian inspired cafe that
serves both wine and cocktails with Jazz
Club on a Monday at 8pm.
Uplands Tavern Also known as The Tav,
this pub has recently re-opened after being
refurbished over the summer. They have a
mix of local and touring bands, including
jazz, pop, rock, blues and more. There is an
open mic night every Monday. Also, it is
renowned as the late famous poet, Dylan
Thomas’ s snug!
LC2 You may think you are past the days

the romantic sea views.
Oxwich Bay is one of the Gower’s most
popular beaches, with two and half
miles of golden sand and sand dunes.
It is a safe beach for swimming (except
of in front of slipway for boats) and is
good for watersports, including diving,
sailing, water-skiing and windsurfing.
Three Cliffs Bay (pictured left) is one of
the Gower’s most picturesque beaches.
This bay is popular with climbers and
you can walk underneath the cliffs
through archways. However, do not
swim at Three Cliffs Bay at high tide as
there are strong rip currents.
Always check the weather and tidal

of splashing in water, but Swansea’s leisure
centre, the LC2, has a water park like no
other. It is about a five minute walk from
the city centre and the water park contains
slides and rides galore! A definite cure for a
hangover!
Wales’ National Pool
If you enjoy
swimming without the slides, Sketty Lane
leisure centre has an Olympic length pool
that Olympians such as Gemma Almond,
Ellie Simmonds and Georgia Davies train in.
For a casual swim it costs £3.50 or an annual
student membership costs £168.
Swansea Museum This museum is the
oldest in Wales. The collections contain
objects from the past of Swansea, Wales and
the rest of the world. There is everything
from an Egyptian mummy to a Welsh
kitchen, alongside temporary exhibitions.
National Waterfront Museum
This
museum shows the history of industry in
Wales over the last 300 years. What’s even
better is that it is free entry!
•See pages 16-17 for city and campus maps.

conditions before swimming or
partaking in other water activities for
your own safety!
The Mumbles, the gateway to Gower,
is the treasure of Swansea. The large
village holds the ruins of Oystermouth
Castle and has a pier and a lighthouse.
You can walk, cycle, drive or catch
the train or bus to the Mumbles and
when you arrive be sure to visit the
amusements, Joe’s Ice Cream Parlour
and charity shops in this area, for some
bargains. There are lots of nice shops
and cafes too. Catherine Zeta-Jones
has a property in the Mumbles, so
keep your eye out!

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

You’ll enjoy savouring the flavours of sin city!
EVERYBODY knows that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day and In Swansea we
take this seriously. You may not yet have heard
of the legendary Uplands Diner. If not, then
google it, now! Having been voted Britain’s
Best Builders’ Breakfast and having a feature
on Soccer AM, the diner is famous for its giant
breakfast, The Beast. This consists of: 6 Bacon,
4 Sausages, 3 Eggs, Chips, Beans, Tomatoes,
Mushrooms, Spaghetti, 1 Hash Brown, 3 Toast &
4 Bread & Butter.
If you finish The Beast – only a few people ever
have! - you get your meal refunded and a free
t-shirt! If you’re not that ambitious, they have a
great menu to suit everyone at student prices,
including 10% discount on production of a valid
NUS Card for purchases of £2.50 and above.
Of course, a real Swansea breakfast contains
fried cockles and laverbread (a type of
seaweed) as well as the bacon and sausage.
Don’t believe me? Then take a trip to Swansea’s
fantastic indoor market in the Quadrant
shopping centre and you will see stall after stall
selling cockles and laverbread. Ask the lady on
the counter how to cook it.
Once breakfast is out of the way, it’s time to
start thinking about an ice cream. Swansea is
well known for its ice cream parlours. There are
five in the Mumbles area alone. The undisputed
King of them all is Joe’s ice cream. You won’t

ever have tasted anything like it. Even on a
rainy day, the queue for Joe’s is out of the door
down at Mumbles, but it is worth it! Check
it out either on St Helen’s Road in the city or
at their parlour in the middle of Mumbles.
Other good places for ice cream are Fortes and
Castellamare at Limeslade, Verdis in Mumbles
and Ripples on the seafront in West Cross.
If you don’t like ice cream, try a cup of tea with
another local delicacy, Welsh Cakes. They are
flat, round scone-like cakes filled with currants
and mixed spice and baked on a griddle. Yum.
Now what better way to round off this delicious
day than with a curry. Swansea has its own
curry mile on St Helen’s Road. Start at one end
and make your way up! There’s everything from
the bargain buffet to dining in splendour at the
Patti Raj, which is part of the Patti Pavilion, the
former home of opera singer Adelina Patti.

When mum and dad come to visit, take them
to the Grape and Olive. Situated at the top
of the tallest residential tower in Wales, this
restaurant offers the best view of Swansea Bay.
Meridian Tower is 351ft tall with a 360 degrees
view of Swansea. You may be thinking, ‘surely
this means the restaurant is £££?’ but you’d
be pleasantly surprised. For a great meal, it is
definitely within the budgets of students.
By Samantha Booth

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9

Something for everyone

at Swansea City Centre

Whether you’re looking for a great day out, a place
to shop for the latest trends, or looking for fun
with your friends in one of
many restaurants, bars
or pubs look no further Swansea’s got it all.

Throughout the year, the
city centre is also host to
a series of events, festivals
and speciality markets,
making it the venue to visit
and experience a fun and
lively city centre.

You’ll find some
great attractions,
with everything
from cinemas,
bowling and
gyms, to Wales’
first board rider
and indoor
tropical
centre.

Swansea Market

At the heart
of the city centre,
you’ll find over 100 stalls
offering everything from fresh,
local produce and takeaway food
to video games and jewellery!

Your One Stop Shop!
As well as variety, you’ll enjoy fantastic quality and value for
money. And Swansea Market traders pride themselves on the
service that they offer, so if you’re stuck for recipe ideas or need
advice with a laptop problem, you’ll find someone ready to help.

HE time has finally come.
You’ve arrived, your bags
are (mostly) unpacked and
hopefully you’re settling in nicely,
writes Jon May.
Your Freshers’ year is an amazing
experience and although you will
have a bit of work to do when you’re
not partying all night, you’ll still
have some down time to try and fill.
Joining a society is a great way to
meet people who are like-minded.
You’ll find friends, relationships and
a whole new group of people you
can go out (or stay in!) with and it’ll
be a great way to spend any free
time you have left.

you have and there’s not a society
for it, start one yourself!
Our Dance Society, which has
around
600
members,
was
nominated for a national award as a
Society of the Year. This was through
their fundraising ideas, charitable
events and partnership with a local
cancer centre that benefited from
the proceeds.
Rosie Hunnam, Societies and
Student Development Coordinator
said: “The Dance Committee and
members have all worked tirelessly
to provide opportunities for their

members to develop and socialise.
We are absolutely thrilled that their
work and member dedication has
been recognised by NUS. “
Try something new. Try something
you’ve never done before. You only
live once and getting stuck into
societies will mean you meet new
people, you’ll get more confident
if you’re a bit shy and you’ll have a
great time whilst doing it.

•Turn to page 12 to see the societies
you can sign up for at Freshers’ Fayre in
the marquee outside Fulton House on
26th & 27th September.

freshers’ guide to SOCIETIES

While a lot of it can be about going
out and partying, it’s also a support
network and a place where you can
turn to for help and advice from
people who are passionate about
the same things you.
It’s also a place you can gain
employability and skills. Being on
a society’s management commitee
looks great on your CV and will
enhance
your
employment
prospects..
There are more than 80 societies
and there will definitely be one
for you. From religious groups to
subject-based clubs, the choice is
vast, but if there’s a burning passion

For more information, see the societies page on
www.swansea-union.co.uk

Meet the Students’ Union award-winning societies
THE Students’ Union Awards ceremony is a time when hard
working societies and individuals pick up the best reward
for their efforts.
The winners are nominated by students and a shortlist is
whittled down and the winners chosen by the Trustees of
the Union (the management team, the full-time officers
and a few private individuals).
In 2012, your student newspaper, The Waterfront picked
up a Highly Commended certificate in the Innovation
& Enterprise category for the coverage of the Students’
Union Full Time Officer elections, with the SIFE (Students
In Free Enterprise) winning the category for engaging
the community through new technology and winning a
national award.

The Best Student-led Event went to the Chemical
Engineering (ChemEng) Society for their Frank Morton
Day, where students studying Chemical Engineering from
Universities across the country come together in a bid for
the trophy.
The LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender et al)
Society was given the Best Student-Led Campaign for their
work on awareness and highlighting issues faced by LGBT+
students.
Students often receive negative reports in the press, but the
Community Engagement Award aimed to make a positive
difference to local residents. The English Society won the
category for their work on the Brynmill Community Library.

Waterfront student editors Samantha Booth, Rebecca Taylor
and Jon May.
The award for Best New Society went to the Chinese
Society, with the Eastern European, St John Links, Pagan
and Swansea Gamers Corps being highly commended.
Most Improved Society was presented by Rosie Hunnam,
Society and Student Developement Officer, who highly
commended Conservation & Ecology, Shoreline Theate
(Drama), SIFE Swansea and the Physics Society, before
announcing Gym Gym (The Welsh Society) as the winner.

Some of the individual awards went to society committee members who volunteered.

The biggest award of the night was Society of the Year . On
the shortlist were Shoreline Theatre, Choral, St John Links,
English and Dance. The Choral Society took home the
trophy (and performed at the ceremony).

OU’VE reached university. Firstly, pat
yourself on the back. It’s a long way
from being born, going through
school, finishing your A-levels and moving
half way across the country to the city at
the other end of the M4, writes Jon May.
There are a few things you should really
bear in mind so you can actually get to
the other side of the university process
without going broke, starving to death or
succumbing to alcohol poisoning.
1. Get a proper coat. I’m not joking.
Swansea is the wettest city in Britain
(according to the Met Office) and making
sure you don’t actually drown on the way
to lectures is a must. Get some proper
jumpers, it can get chilly here too.
2. Drink responsibly. That doesn’t mean
“don’t spill any”, although wasting it is a
shame. Tooters (Friday night in Divas) and
Sin Savers (Thursday night in Sin City) offer

•Take up a sport

free soft drinks. No excuse not to switch
and have the odd coke without the vodka
every now and again. Your head will thank
you the next morning.
3. Don’t fall out with your new flatmates.
Or sleep with them for that matter. You’ve
got to live with them for the next year and
being a stubborn mule about who has left
their dirty plate in the sink will just make
you enemies. Take a relaxed and openminded attitude to the people you’re living
with. You won’t like all of them, but try to
be nice even if you do dislike someone.
4. Eat healthily. I know this is sounding like
a moaning mother’s column but it is really
important you see some kind of vegetable
get inside your body. Too much drinking
and not enough fruit and veg will put you
at risk of getting scurvy (no lie!) - Swansea
has an indoor market that can provide all
manner of fresh and local produce as well
as Tesco having a wide variety of exotic

•Drink responsibly

•Learn to cook

fruit. Whilst shopping exclusively in Iceland
is cheaper, you will pay for it in the end.
5. Chicken Soup. Kind of linked to eating
healthily; try and stay healthy. You’re going
to get Freshers Flu (lots of people coming
from across the country turns all the
nightclubs into petri dishes) so stock up on
emergency food in case you can’tmake it
to the shops.
6. Explore Swansea. The only way to truly
get to know a city is to get lost in it. Take
a smartphone so you can get home if you
get lost, but walk around where you live,
get to know the shortcuts, the nearest
chippy and where the corner shop is.
7. Register with the doctor. It sounds
pretty low on your priority list, but take five
minutes out of your day to find out where
your nearest doctors’ surgery is and register.
If you’re ill you can then go there. You might
find you can’t get an appointment if you’re

•Get a proper coat

not registered.
8. Learn to cook. Your mum might have
shown you how to open a can of soup and
how to operate a microwave, but this does
not make you a culinary expert. Learn how
to make some substantial dishes. If you
invite someone over for a date and you
serve them a microwave meal, it probably
won’t end well.
9. Sort out your finances. Having £1,200
wired to your account is the best thing
ever. Until you realise after rent, bills and
outgoings, it only leaves £10/week. Plan
your budget and stick to it.
10. Join the gym or take up a sport.
There’s a 24-hour gym in town and for
£10.99/month you can fight the flab. Just
because you have the option to sit at
home watching Jezza Kyle all day eating
takeaway, doesn’t mean you ought to!

•Explore Swansea

•Eat healthily

All the help and advice you’ll ever need
Advice Service Centre
The Swansea Students’ Union
Advice Service Centre offers free,
independent and confidential advice
and representation to all Swansea
University students.
It is situated on the left hand side of
Fulton House and is open MondayFriday 10am-4pm.
The advisors can help you with matters
relating to academic, housing, family
& personal, employment, consumer
rights, benefits, health, representation,
debt/money advice, and uni
accommodation.
You can contact them on 01792 295821
or at advice@swansea-union.co.uk

University Health Centre

This is an NHS General Medical Practice,
based on the university campus and
providing friendly, comprehensive
medical services focussing on the
needs of students.
It is on on the ground floor, Penmaen
building.
The surgery is open throughout the
year Monday to Friday (except Bank

Holidays) from 8.30am - 12.30pm and
1.30pm - 6pm
Open Access surgeries: no appointment
necessary, Monday - Friday 9am 11.30am
Services include advice on
contraception, pregnancy, sexual
health, HIV / AIDS, sports medicine,
and a travel clinic, as well as emotional
health.
For further details and information
on how to register with the practice
visit their website: http://www.
universityhealthcentre.co.uk/
Telephone: 01792 295321

Dental Surgery

Kee Dental Care offers a full range of
NHS and private treatments. It is open
to all students; NHS spaces are available
to students who register at the start of
the academic term in September 2012.
(NHS spaces are limited to the first
1,000 students to register from the start
of the academic year.)
All patients under the age of 25 living
in Wales are entitled to free dental
examinations..
Surgery hours: Mon - Thurs: 8.30am -

All students at Swansea University
benefit from access to the Student
Support Services Department, which
provides information, advice and
support on a wide range of issues.
Services offered are:

Residential Services

University residences and the union/
university run SAS Lettings.

International Student Advisory
Service
Provides a range of support services
for Swansea’s international student
community.

Disability Office

Support for students with a disability,

Wellbeing Service

The Wellbeing Service helps people feel
better within themselves and function
more effectively as members of the
University.

For guidance on all areas of student
funding, including grants, loans,
bursaries and benefits. They can also
help you manage your money more
effectively.

English Language Training
Service

English Language Training Services
can help you improve your English
language skills.
Student Support Services can be
contacted on 01792 602000 or email
student.services@swansea.ac.uk.
•You can find how to contact each
service by visiting the university
website at http://www.swansea.ac.uk/
undergraduate/student-services/

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

15

Going out and about ...
Taxi fares in Swansea

On a typical night out, a taxi from the student
village at Hendrefoilan to town is about £8-10.
In the daytime, a taxi from campus to the bus
station is about £5-6, writes Sam Booth.

Bus travel

An adult day pass is £4.20, which gives you
access to all bus services in Swansea. A single
is £2.25 and a return is £3.60. You can also buy
a student pass from the travel centre, which
works out at around £1 per day.
The main bus station is in the city centre at
the back of the Quadrant shopping centre and
next to Tesco. There are many services that run
to the east and west of Swansea.
From the student village into town, there
are several bus routes. The 82A, which runs
approximately every 20 minutes in the week
during term time, takes you to campus before
6pm, then into town after the hour. If you
arrive at campus, the number 4 bus runs from

university to Morriston hospital with useful
stops such as town and the train station on the
way.
The bus stop at the end of the student village
has several services into town, such as the 21A
and 20A.
For more information, visit http://www.
firstgroup.com/ukbus/south_west_wales/ or
enquire at the travel shop in Fulton House.

Walking

From the student village to campus is about a
30-40 minute walk. A walk from campus to the
Mumbles can take over an hour, but you have
to do it at least once whilst you are in Swansea.

Trains

Swansea Railway Station is situated just
outside of the city centre on High Street. You
can catch the purple 4A bus to right outside
the station or it is about a 20 minute walk from
the city centre.

... and getting home safely
Taking a taxi

Walking home

1. Only get into a licensed cab. To find out more
about this and a full list of cab firms and taxi
ranks, see http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/
advice/safety/gethome
2. Check the potential price of the journey
before getting in.
3. Do not give money upfront - only once
you’ve reached your destination.
4. Check that the taxi has a meter, and that it’s
running throughout the journey
5. If you are alone, sit behind the driver. If
possible get a black cab with a screen, as they
are safer for lone passengers.
6. Keep your info safe. When ordering a taxi,
make sure that no-one can overhear your
address.
7. Keep in contact. Arrange to text or call
someone when you reach your end destination
safely.
8. Trust your instincts. If you feel threatened at
any time, ask the driver to stop somewhere safe
that you can get out in a public place. If the
driver refuses to stop, call the police.
9. Don’t tell any taxi driver you are going back to
an empty house.
10. Don’t get into a taxi with strangers.

1. Avoid walking alone. Ring a taxi or arrange for
friends to pick you up.
2. Walk near crowded streets with good lighting.
Walk toward oncoming traffic to see where cars
are coming from.
3. Avoid short cuts, unlit areas or near parked
cars. It’s better to use longer paths that you
know are safer.
4. Have keys in your hands and inside your
pocket. When you reach your door, you should
have your keys ready.
5. Do not walk with headphones on or talking
on the phone.
6. Walk with confidence. Keep your head up.
If you get lost, head for the nearest store or
restaurant to ask for directions.
7. Carry a personal alarm. The SU can give you a
personal alarm for free.
8. Choose comfortable footwear to walk home
in. If you are walking home from a night out,
take flat shoes in your bag.
9. Know what to do in a worst case scenario.
The SU runs self defence classes throughout the
year, which can be useful in making you feel
more confident in that situation.
Becki Warrillow

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

16

Get to know your city centre with our map
G

ETTING around Swansea city
centre can require a degree in its
own right, writes Jon May.

With the one-way streets and the
horrifically out-of-date SatNav systems
sending you through roads that no
longer exist, you might be in luck if you’re
coming to study Geography.

freshers’ guide to CITY & CAMPUS

We’ve picked out a few highlights of
the beautiful city and some of the most
important places you’ll hear about when
you meet other people.
For example, Wind Street is the main
party central area in central Swansea.
You’ll need to pronounce it like “Wine
Street” to avoid ridicule. Remember it’s
pronounced like booze (which the street
is pretty famous for), not like the weather.
Safety is first and foremost though. Whilst
Wind Street is a great haven for revellers,

it’s also the second most violent street in
the UK.

with the O2 Priortity Moments App for
iPhone and Android.

Be on your guard and if you feel
uncomfortable, leave or alert the many
security staff and police officers patrolling
the area.

Not listed on this map that you’ll need
to know about is that the nearest
Accident and Emergency department is
at Morriston Hospital about 30 minutes
north-east.

The train station is to the north of the city,
just missed out on our map below. The
24 hour Tesco, Primark and the Swansea
Indoor Market (pictured below centre) are
the best places in town to grab a bargain,
whether it be loo roll, some new jeans or
some vegetables for dinner (yes, that’s
right, people occasionally eat them!)
The bus station, the gym and Sin City are
also vitally important places any student
should know about and the Odeon
Cinema offers a great deal on Wednesdays
for Orange customers. If your friend has
O2, you can also get some free popcorn

You can catch the number 4 bus to
Morriston (the purple bendy bus) and it
stops outside. In life or death sitauations,
call for an ambulance. You’ll get there
quicker and you won’t need to pay £4.20
for a return.
Just northeast of the Odeon Cinema is
a Lidl supermarket which sells German
and generally cheap food. From amazing
Swedish biscuits (a personal favourite,
but a sure way to early diabetes) to a
bit of Bratwurst, the budget chain store
always has a lot to offer students.

Located near the top of the map is
Swansea Police Station. Hopefully you’ll
never have to visit, but it’s always best to
know where it is if you need it.
There is also a whole host of restaurants,
such as the great all-you-can-eat Cosmos
and Peachy Keens (another personal
recommendation!) which will fill any
black hole-like stomach for less than a
tenner.
If you’re a bit more cultured, there is also
the Swansea Grand Theatre, with acts
such as Michael McIntyre, Rhod Gilbert
and Kevin Bridges.
Head into town, get lost and immerse
yourself in the city centre and you’ll soon
get to know it like the back of your hand.
There are plenty of “City Information
Points” if you get really lost.

Credit: OpenStreetMap

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

17

Guide to your campus
C

AMPUS is where you’ll spend most
of your academic time and, if you’re
living in halls, where you’ll be for most
of your first year.
If you’re a returning student, the first thing
you’ll notice that’s wrong with this map is
that the Level 2 Shop no longer exists. It
will however be replaced by a CostCutter
supermarket where Niche and Bake’n’Take
used to be on the ground floor.
Divas, now revamped and improved, sits on
the first floor of Union House and is home to
the Tooters and OMG nights on Friday and
Saturday nights respectively.
JCs Bar, the place where everyone knows
your name, is still on the second floor of
Fulton House and looks great after the
refurbishment last summer.
The library is often missed off important
campus destinations, but as assignment
dates loom and essays need writing, you’ll
find this becomes your new home.

Credit: OpenStreetMap

All the halls of residences for on-campus
accommodation can be located at the back
of campus, with Penmaen and Horton being
the newer blocks (with fire alarms that are
too sensitive!) to Cefn Bryn and Rhossili at
the back. The halls are often named after

places in the Gower region.
The post office can be found to the front
of Fulton House, running all services you’d
expect from sending letters abroad to
paying for your television license and car tax.
There is also a Minor Injuries Unit at Singleton
Hospital, located on campus. Unfortunately
this is only for small treatments and there
isn’t an X-Ray facility. The nearest A&E
department is at Morriston Hospital.
There are nine coffee shops in total on
campus. Bonus points if you can drink a
coffee in each of them. The university-owned
caffeine outlets serve Starbucks, although
disappointingly, don’t do the frappacinos.
The Taliesin Arts Centre on campus shows
performances and a selection of world
cinema films.
The beach is literally a stone’s throw away
and many societies will organise beach
barbeques during good weather.
The boating lake offers crazy golf and swan
pedalos during the summer and the Pub
on the Pond next door offers some great
lunchtime offers.
A relaxing way to spend a summer’s
afternoon is spent sitting on the balcony on
Fulton House just watching the world go by.

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

19

Get yourself a
part-time job

And finally ...

The Students’ Union is seeking to help
students find part-time work and
develop new skills through a brand new
part-time jobs fayre on October 2.
In research conducted last year, it was
noted that 61% of Swansea students had
part-time work alongside their studies
and with the rise in tuition fees kicking in
this year, there is even more demand for
part-time work.
The fayre will feature a variety of
employers, from both the Students’
Union and local businesses, offering
students an excellent opportunity to
speak to employers face to face and
find out more about employment at
university.
Alongside external and internal
employers, the fayre will also host
a variety of workshops and talks on
subjects such as interview skills, what
to wear for interviews and help with
writing CVs and personal specifications.
Employability Champions from each
college at Swansea University will also be
giving talks on the day, telling students
about opportunities in their own
academic area.
Judith James, Strategic Projects Manager
at the university, will be available
regarding voluntary opportunities in the
Students’ Union, from getting involved
in campaigns, to working with the
community or as a part-time officer or
subject and college reps.
It’s an event not just for first years but
for all students looking to find part-time
work, to gain new skills or to get involved
with what the Students’ Union can offer.
Judith James welcomed the event
saying: “Working or volunteering can
help students to develop commercial
and business awareness which is
in demand by employers in every
sector. There are opportunities to
develop creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurial skills - and you could
earn some useful money as well!”
For more information please email
Josh Hayman at societiesandservices@
swansea-union.co.uk.

Enjoy your time at Swansea and take
advantage of all the opportunities to make
the most of your experience as a student
because your time here will go quickly you’ll
be graduating before you know it!

•The fayre will be held on the
2nd October in the marquee in
the front of Fulton House from
10.30am-4pm.

The careers helpdesk in the library

Your first steps on the career ladder
T

freshers’ guide to CAREERS

HERE are lots of opportunities to
develop your employability and skills
during your time here at Swansea
– through your studies, work experience
placements and student jobs as well as your
leisure activities and things like volunteering,
writes Jo Davies.
Careers and Employability offers services
to help you make the most of all your
talents and find the direction that’s right for
you, whether it’s a job, internship, further
study or time out to try something different.
Around 40% of advertised graduate jobs are
open to graduates of any subject, so you
probably have more options open to you
than you might think.
Find us in the Library and online
Our Helpdesk is on the ground floor of the
Library in the central hall just before you go
into the study hall. It’s open throughout the
year (not just term-time) from 9am – 5pm
Monday to Friday (10 am – 5 pm Tuesday).
Our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/
careers is a gateway to information on
careers and further study options and job
search skills, We provide lots of information
on Blackboard too, such as:

•Aptitude tests and personal development
assessments - try out the kinds of selection
tests employers use and get confidential
feedback reports by email for FREE.

•Databases covering all kinds of careers
topics and opportunities overseas.

•Resources to help you with Personal

Development Planning (PDP), which
basically means thinking about how you’re
getting on, and identifying/developing a

variety of skills that will enable you to make
the most of your time at university and get
what you want from your future career.
Swansea Employability Award
The SEA helps you explore who you are and
then gain experience and develop skills. If
you complete the SEA it will be recorded on
your Higher Education Achievement Record
(HEAR). Visit www.sea.swansea.ac.uk.
Advice from the Careers Team
Getting your head around career ideas may
seem daunting to start with, but we can
help you break it down into manageable
bite-size chunks, with face to face help and
also online advice through our website.
To make an appointment for an informal
chat with a Careers Adviser you can book
online through our website at www.
swansea.ac.uk/careers. They can help with
any career topic you want to discuss, such
as CVs and personal statements, completing
application forms, preparing for interviews –
any many more. Advice by email will also
be available later on in the year.
Stand out from the crowd
Employers want to see evidence of lots of
different skills and personal qualities which
you can develop by joining in with student
societies, sports clubs, etc as well as from
doing work experience placements. So a
good social life is good for your career too.
Starting early is a key factor to help you get
the career and lifestyle you eventually want
– here’s why:

•To

help you stand out from the crowd
amongst the ever-increasing numbers of

students graduating from university.

•Giving

yourself the chance to try out
different types of jobs will help you
understand what you really want in your
future career – and what you don’t want!

•Employers

often use internships as
the talent pool for their main graduate
recruitment programmes.

•For

certain careers (e.g. journalism,
teaching, psychology, law you need good
experience under your belt early to include
in successful applications for professional
postgraduate training.

•Your final year will be very busy with exams

and assignments, so spreading the load over
three or four years makes things a lot easier.
Jobs, internships and part time work
In the Jobs section of our site at www.
swansea.ac.uk/careers/jobs/ you will find
our database of UK-wide vacancies notified
direct to Careers and Employability including
jobs for after you graduate, immediate
graduate vacancies, work experience
placements, voluntary work, and temporary
casual jobs in the Swansea area.
As well as our own database, you’ll find
links to many other sources of jobs and work
experience opportunities. For instance,
the GO Wales programme offers paid
placements and short unpaid work tasters.

CV workshops

Careers Fair Oct 4

Careers talks

A lunchtime practical workshop covering the key
points on how to write an effective CV. These
workshops are useful if you have not yet written
your CV or need further advice, and whether you
are applying for term-time or post graduation
vacancies. Please note we cannot give you oneto-one help at this workshop as time does not
allow, but you can bring your CV with you.
Book your place on the careers website at: www.
swansea.ac.uk/careers/talksandevents

Don’t miss the Careers Fair on 4 October! This
is your chance to spend some time talking to
people you may want to work with, and the Fair
will also include a CV clinic and workshops. There
are dozens of employers attending and it takes
place in the Marquee outside Fulton House from
10am to 3pm. You can find more information
and a list of recruiters taking part in the Fair on
our events page at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/
talksandevents

In addition to the Fair, we have a programme of
events running throughout the year, but most of
them happen during the Autumn term and early
Spring Term. It includes employers’ presentations
and also workshops on a range of career
management and skills topics. New events are
being added to our database all the time, so keep
an eye on our web page at www.swansea.ac.uk/
careers/talksandevents/ where you can book
online for anything that you’re interested in.

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

21

One Up on 2011: Sports Review 2012
by Tom Nightingale
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

freshers’ guide to

SPORT

LAST year marked another season of
great sporting success for Swansea
University, as we moved up one place
in the BUCS rankings compared to
the previous year.
Over the course of the year Swansea
achieved both collective and individual
medals at regional and national events.
Swansea University also saw some
of their finest compete in front of
global audiences during this summer’s
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
So as the new season approaches
here is what you may have missed, in
Swansea’s season review 2011/12.

HISTORY BOYS: Swansea achieved their first win in the men’s novice race in the Welsh Varsity boat race competition.

HIGH ACHIEVERS: Emma Smithurst and David Townsend.

FIGHTING CHAMPIONS: Holly Carey and Calum Spours take top honours.

SWANSEA started the year strongly
with many sports teams high up in
their league tables.
One of the highlights of the first
semester was Swansea’s women’s
basketball firsts’ narrow but deserved 6463 victory over rivals Cardiff University.
Another was men’s football firsts’
equally impressive 1-0 away win against
Cardiff.
Men’s rugby firsts also started well,
with a convincing victory over Bristol
University 30-13.
Swansea surged up the BUCS rankings
just before the Christmas break with
success in both swimming and jitsu.

THE second semester brought even
more fantastic moments for the
University, with great success in
martial arts and athletics.
The judo team won two medals at
the Welsh Nationals; gold for Karina
Young and bronze for David Townsend.
In February, Calum Spours continued
the success as he was crowned the
Welsh boxing champion at the 67kg
division.
The jitsu team built on their earlier
success with eight more medals at the
Randori Nationals.
Swansea’s swimming team took third
place finish at the BUCS long course

Swansea came third out of 44 in
the BUCS short course swimming
competition, with Emma Smithurst
winning four medals, breaking two
BUCS records in the process, and Ross
Douglas and Adam Mallett both taking
bronze.
Swansea’s jitsu team also experienced
national success by winning the BUCS
shield in Sheffield.
This would not be the only success
jitsu captain David Townsend would
have this year. After the BUCS shield
victory Townsend declared the jitsu club
had “established [itself ] as a martial art,
and as a sport within the athletics union.”

event, matching their success in the
shorter discipline back in November.
In March, Swansea’s martial arts
continued to flourish with their
taekwondo club winning nine medals
at the ITF Student Championship.
The karate club also took four medals
at the UK Open with karate captain,
Holly Carey, leading by example and
winning double gold. Carey described
this success as capping off her “most
successful year to date”.
Imelda Morrison rounded off a fine
year after she achieved gold in the
women’s long jump at the BUCS Indoor
Athletics Championship.

Beaten But Not Bowed

LOWEST MOMENT: Swansea lost to Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium.

THE event of the year for Swansea’s
sporting stars was as always the
Welsh Varsity, against arch rivals
Cardiff, which was hosted in the
capital for the second year in a row.
Ultimately Swansea were well beaten
in the rugby match despite a fine start
with a try from fly-half Aled Lewis after
10 minutes.
Cardiff took control and moved out of
sight with a lead of 23 points to six with
only half an hour left.
Swansea battled back to score a
converted try but it was not enough as
Cardiff scored two more late on to seal
the win 33-13. Coach Richard Lancaster

was bullish despite the result. He said:
“[The defeat was] something to store
and use as fuel for next season.”
On the back of the defeat, Swansea
are sure to come back stronger next
year.
Overall Swansea suffered their worst
Varsity in recent years with only five wins
from 26 events. The wins for Swansea
came in golf, men’s fencing, women’s
squash, sailing and Intramural football.
Despite the disappointing finale
Swansea can be proud of their teams.
Elsewhere, the men’s novice rowing
team won their first ever race in Welsh
Varsity history.

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

Sports Officer Imogen Stanley
Aims to Make History with
Top 20 Finish in BUCS

THE new sports officer, Imogen
Stanley, has set out an ambitious
two-year plan to get Swansea
into the top 20 of the BUCS
(British Universities and College
Sports) overall standings.
This announcement comes

after Swansea secured their joint
highest position of 25th last season,
matching their finish from 2010.
“After last year, when we had our
joint highest finish in BUCS, I want
to be pushing the top 20,” she said.
“But this isn’t going to happen
in a year. I am working with Sport
Swansea and the Students’ Union
to create a strategy for sport with

objectives to aim for 2014.”
Stanley believes Swansea are
also capable of winning the Welsh
Varsity Shield, which is given for
winning the most sports at Varsity,
something Swansea has never
done.
She said: “Varsity is something we
can work on this year; we only won
four sports in 2012. In 2013, I want

Swansea to win 10 sports and in
2014, I want us to win 14 and take
home the shield we so deserve to
win.”
Stanley has continued to work
through the summer in preparation
for the year, helping to fully merge
the former Athletics’ Union (now
Sport Swansea) with the Students’
Union.

22

She said: “Preparations for the
season are going well, I have spent
a lot of time making my captain’s
handbook so that the committees
know about all the changes that
have happened moving sports into
the Students’ Union.
“I have also started to look into
funding and grant programmes
that we can apply for to support our
smaller and developing clubs.”
Stanley remains focused on
raising the profile of smaller clubs
this year but wants to help all
initiatives if they come to her
attention.
She said: “Small and developing
clubs will continue to be my priority.
But I also fully support and would
encourage students to expand their
sports.
“This year, for example, a new
Welsh rugby freshers’ league is
starting. Sadie Thwaites [Sport
Swansea’s administrator] and I are
also looking into getting more
women involved in sport using
netball. This is provisional and
won’t be started until September
2013 if it goes ahead.
“I am also working with the local
water sports centre, I want to make
sure the centre is fit for students and
I am working with the university to
ensure this.”
Stanley, the former sailing captain,
still has her green and white spirit
burning strong as the season draws
closer, with rivalries firmly on her
mind. She added: “I want to see us
smash Cardiff.”

thewaterfront

21 September 2012
waterfrontonline.co.uk

23

Freshers’ Guide to Sport at Swansea University
by Craig Hadley
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

THE abundance of choice
at Swansea University is
phenomenal and sport is no
different, with no less than 41
sports on offer.
Swansea students have the
choice of: Aikido, American Football,
Archery, Badminton, Basketball,
Boxing,
Canoe,
Cheerleading,
Cricket,
Equestrian,
Football,
Fencing, Golf, Hiking, Hockey, JiuJitsu, Karting, Karate, Kickboxing,
Kitesurfing, Lacrosse, Lifesaving,
Mountain Biking, Mountaineering,
Netball, Rowing, Rugby League,
Rugby Union, Running, Sailing,
Snowriders, Squash, Sub Aqua,
Surf, Swimming, Tae Kwon Do,
Tennis, Triathlon, Ultimate Frisbee,
Volleyball and Windsurfing.
Swansea University is known for
its rugby union, with players often
going on to play professionally after
graduation, such as Rhys Priestland
at the Llanelli Scarlets and Alun Wyn
Jones at the Ospreys.
Most sports compete against
other universities through British
Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS)
events.
BUCS has been the governing
body of higher education sport

since 2008. Swansea has been in
the top 31 since the introduction of
BUCS and has peaked at 25th twice
in 2010 and 2012.
Most team sports within BUCS take
place on a Wednesday
afternoon,
with
certain competitions
taking place over the
weekends such as the
BUCS Short Course
Swimming Championships.
Home games are usually played
either at Sketty Lane playing fields
or at Fairwood (bus travel available).
An internal football competition
runs at Swansea University outside
of the BUCS football competitions.
It is known as the Intramural
Football League and it also runs
throughout the year on Wednesday
afternoons (weather permitting) at
Ashleigh Road playing fields.
Spectators are always welcome to
both Intramural or BUCS games to
support the teams in action.
Last year saw the Ents cup
(intramural
cup
competition)
take
place at St Helens
rugby ground for
the first time since
its conception, which was a major
venue upgrade from the Sketty
athletic track the previous year.
One major change that has

occurred since last year is the
emergence of Sport Swansea.
Last year it was decided the
Athletics’ Union was to be
disbanded with the operations
of sport to be handled within the
Students’ Union.
This was confirmed by a
merger vote that
was supported by a
majority of voters with
all key Union officials
actively supporting the
change.
If you have any queries to do
with sports, ask your Sports Officer,
Imogen Stanley.
Finally it is time to speak about
Varsity, or more precisely, the Welsh
Varsity.
There are many Varsity events
take that place across the UK, with
the Welsh Varsity seeing Swansea
face off against arch-rivals Cardiff.
Varsity is the biggest sporting
event of the year and something all
members of Swansea University’s
sports teams look forward to.
The event has grown year in year
out and now takes
place over a week
with a majority of the
sports taking place on
a single day.
The Varsity shield is awarded to
whomever wins the most sports

over the course of the event.
However, the rugby match is the
most important one of all, and is
the one that matters to student and
player alike.
The Millennium Stadium hosts
the match and it is also shown on
S4C on television.

Swansea lost last year’s match but
will look to follow in the footsteps
of those who played in 2011, when
Swansea defeated Cardiff in the first
Varsity match to have been played
at the Millennium.
So if you only go to one event this
year make sure it is Varsity!

VARSITY TEAM 2012: Some of Swansea’s elite from last year’s Varsity.

sport

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Freshers’ Guide

waterfrontonline.co.uk
All of our articles throughout the
year can be found on our website,
it’s updated regularly so check it
out today !

September 21, 2012

SWANSEA HOPING
TO BUILD ON ITS
SPORTING LEGACY

Inside This Issue
Sport Swansea

Swansea University’s
season of sport revisited

p21
Sport Swansea

Freshers’ guide to sport at
Swansea University

Photo by: Alexander Jones

HOME SWEET HOME: Swansea University’s long standing home of sport, Sketty Lane, hosting one of the annual Swansea Bay Sevens competitions.
by Alex Powell
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

THE new academic year is about
to begin which can only mean
one thing; the start of the sports
season is upon us.
After an impressive summer for
Team GB, in both the Olympic and
Paralympic Games, students will
hope to follow in their footsteps
with success this year.
Among those competing were
Swansea University’s very own

Georgia Davies (swimming), Matt
Whorwood (swimming), Gemma
Almond (swimming) and David
Smith (Boccia).
The students will all, no doubt,
have lasting memories of their time
at the Aquatics Centre or ExCeL
arena.
Thanks to the success of the
local Premiership team, Swansea
City FC, Swansea University have
agreed a deal with the football club
to renovate their sports facilities at
Fairwood.
The university’s football teams

will hope they can be inspired by
the Swansea City playing staff who
will use the facilities throughout the
year.
Swansea men’s 1sts will hope to
make the most of their promotion
to the Premier South division, with
the women’s first team hoping to
better their third place finish in the
Western 2B division.
The university also has an
inspiring list of alumni who have
taken to the Sketty Lane turf for the
rugby union team.
With alumni Alun Wyn Jones,

Rhys Priestland, and Robert Howley
going on to aid Wales in achieving
this year’s Grand Slam title.
The rugby union 1sts will look
to bounce back from their Varsity
disappointment in May, in the
season opener away at Cardiff Met.
With 47 teams in action for
Swansea in BUCS, there will be
plenty of sports action to see over
the course of the year.
Swansea University’s fixtures start
on October 10.

p23
Waterfront Sport

Sports Officer sets out
ambitious two-year plan

p22

For the full list of sporting alumni: www.swansea.
ac.uk/alumni/our-alumni/distinguished/sport/